Swine Cysticercosis Hotspots Surrounding Taenia Solium Tapeworm Carriers

Abstract

We estimated the Taenia solium swine cysticercosis risk gradient surrounding tapeworm carriers in seven rural communities in Peru. At baseline, the prevalences of taeniasis by microscopy and swine cysticercosis by serology were 1.2% (11 of 898) and 30.8% (280 of 908), respectively. The four-month cumulative seroincidence was 9.8% (30 of 307). The unadjusted swine seroprevalence and seroincidence rates increased exponentially by 12.0% (95% confidence [CI] = 9.7-14.3%) and 32.8% (95% CI = 25.0-41.0%), respectively when distance to carriers decreased by half. Swine seroprevalence was 18.4% at > 500 meters from a carrier, 36.5% between 51 and 500 meters, and 68.9% within 50 meters (P < 0.001). Swine seroincidence also displayed a strong gradient near tapeworm carriers (3.8%, 12.2%, and 44.0%; P < 0.001). Within 50 meters, swine seroprevalence appeared unaffected if the owners harbored tapeworms, although pigs owned by a tapeworm carrier had a four times higher seroincidence compared with other pigs (P = 0.005). In rural areas, swine cysticercosis occurs in high-risk hotspots around carriers where control interventions could be delivered.

Prevalence and risk factors for porcine cysticercosis in rural communities of eastern Minas Gerais, Brazil

“…Settlements has greater agglomeration of families (Brazil has 1,288,444 settled families), greater number of pigs raised by these families, and the absence of in-depth awareness-raising education regarding both contamination and transmission TC to humans and to pigs. This result are similar to previous studies, indicating that the natural dynamic of cysticercosis infection in pigs may be facilitated by high rates of environmental contamination (Mwape et al 2013), and the presence of the tapeworm carrier at household level (Lescano et al 2007). These settlements areas may have higher number of porcine cysticercosis than the prevalence found and it probably happens because the high number turning seronegative within a year after infection hiding an important number of infections (Mwape et al 2013).…”

“…However, it was found that the pigs raised at large were 17 times more likely to become seropositive for cysticercosis than those that were always kept confined (p=0.0001), which is an expected result since animals raised at large are exposed to several risk factors. This result is similar the finding by Lescano et al (2007) and Deckers & Dorny (2010), who reported higher prevalence rates in pigs raised at large and noted that these animals' habit of coprophagia favours infection because of the ingestion of faeces containing eggs or proglottids from tapeworm carriers. The management system of the pigs and the destination of human faeces were found to be crucial in the variation of seropositivity, with statistically significant differences (p<0.05).…”

Analysis of the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Populations in Four Villages of the &lt;i&gt;Boucle du Mouhoun&lt;/i&gt; Region (Burkina Faso) Regarding &lt;i&gt;T&#230;nia solium&lt;/i&gt; Life Cycle

“…They also play an important role in the infestation of pigs because according to Lescano et al [16], pigs in concessions with a worm bearer or those within 50 m of a carrier are 3 times more likely to be infected than others located at more than 500 m, and seroconversion incidence is 11 times higher among the first compared to the latter group. Also in our study, we noted the presence of people developing epileptic seizures.…”

Detection of Taenia solium Taeniasis Coproantigen Is an Early Indicator of Treatment Failure for Taeniasis

“…Tapeworm carriers are a source of infection for themselves, their households, and their villages (19,20). The effectiveness of treatment must be maximized, and thus, a rapid confirmation of cure (or treatment failure) is important.…”